Awning window construction



Feb. 19, 1957 Filed Sept. '11, 1953 E. A. WESTMAN AWNING WINDOWCONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

241 864 a/wdb E. A. WESTMAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 19, 1957 AWNING WINDOWCONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 11, 1955 m w mm 2 M mw P A 6 2 :M .LL,

AWNING WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Elmer A. Westman, Fenton, Mich., assignor, bymesne assignments, to Valley Metal Products Co., Plainweli, Mich, acorporation of Michigan Application September 11, 1953, Serial No.379,553

6 Claims. (Cl. 160-90) This invention relates to improvements in windowassemblies and particularly to an improved window frame assemblydesigned for use with swinging window sash and specifically to sealingmeans provided to form a weatherproof seal between the sash and theframe or between the meeting rails of :a pair of swinging sash pivotallysupported within the frame.

One of the difficu'lties encountered in the use of swinging window'sash, whether of the French window type hinged on vertical pivots or ofthe awning window type hinged on horizontal pivots, is that relating toeffectively sealing the window sash against the weather. This inventionrelates to accomplishing such effective sealing.

While the invention is illustrated as embodied in an awning type ofwindow structure, it is obviously adaptable to swinging Windows mountedfor pivotal movement upon vertical axes as well as on horizontal axes.

More particularly an object is the provision of a window frame in anassembly of the character described wherein the frame is providedinteriorly along its two jamb portions and along the header and the sillportion with a flange that projects inwardly of the plane of the frameand substantially parallel thereto and also substantially midway betweenthe inner and outer faces of the frame which flange is adapted topresent opposed faces one of which is engaged by the swinging sash toform a tight seal therewith when the sash is closed and the other ofwhich is engaged by a removable screen or storm sash when the same issupported within the frame and wherein such flange is modified andprovided with sealing means :as hereinafter described to embody theprimary features of my invention.

More specifically such flanges as are provided on the two jamb portionsand the header and sill portion of a window frame are disposed withinthe same plane and form substantial continuations of each other and eachsuch flange is provided on its two opposite faces with grooves which areoffset each other and which extend lengthwise of the flange and each ofwhich is adapted to receive and support a sealing gasket as hereinafterdescribed. Each such groove is so formed that a sealing gasket mountedtherein is securely held in place and exhibits a resilient linearportion which projects outwardly from the face of the flange and isadapted to be engaged by a sash element to form a secure seal therewith.

nited States. Patent The frame member is further provided with a second'ice vide a tight seal between the meeting rails of the two sash.

Further objects, advantages and meritorious features will more fullyappear from the following specification, claims and accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. l is an elevation of a window frame assembly embodying thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through one of the framemembers provided with the sealing gaskets mounted Within the groovestherein;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing both gaskets engaged bytheir-respective sash;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective of one of the gasket members; and

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modifiedform of gasket supported within the grooves 34 of the flange 32.

This invention relates to that portion of the frame and window assemblywhich has to do with the sealing of the two sash against the frame orthe sealing of the sash with respect to each other and does not have todo with the operating mechanism for the swinging sash.

In the drawings, a window frame is shown as provided with a sillport-ion 10, a header portion 12, and a pair of similar jamb portions 14which extend between the header and the sill in the conventional manner.In the construction shown, an upper sash is indicated as U and a lowersash as L. The upper sash is shown as provided with a glass pane glazedtherein and a lower sash is shown as similarly provided. The lower railof the lower sash has a face portion 16 which overlaps a portion of thesill of the frame and the upper rail of the upper sash has a faceportion 18 which overlaps the face plate 20 carried by the header of theframe. Each sash has a pair of side rails 22 which close the open sideof the channel-shaped jamb portions 14 of the frame, as shown in Fig. 2when the sash are closed thereagainst.

In Fig. 3, a sliding bar 24 is illustrated as mounted within the jambportion of the frame upon a channelshaped support 26 in a manner morespecifically described in my copending application this day filed. Thegeneral construction of the operating mechanism, except for thisspecific kindof support for the sliding bar, is shown in my applicationsNos. 291,848 and 291,849 filed June 5, 1952. Inasmuch as this inventiondoes not concern itself with this operating mechanism, such is notfurther disclosed or claimed herein.

it will be noted'that the sill portion, the header portion and each ofthe twojamb portions of the window frame are channel-shaped in crosssection. These portions are so secured together in the rectangular framethat their channels open outwardly. These channels are closed by theswinging upper and lower sash when such sash are closed, except to theextent that the face plate 20 serves to partially close and overhang theheader as illustrated in Fig. 2. Each of these channel-shaped frameportions has an inner wall which is indicated by the numeral 5t) andwhich has a height substantially half that of the outer wall of thechannel and which is formed so as to exhibit a flange 32. thatextendslengthwise thereof and substantially perpendicular thereto and whichflange is adapted to be engaged on one .side by the swinging sash and onthe opposite side by removable screen or storm window sash. The screensash is here shown and such is indicated by the letter S. V

This fianget32is provided on opposite faces with sealing gasketreceiving grooves 34. These grooves are similar. Each is generallykeystone shaped in cross section; i. e., it has a bottom portion fromwhich its two side walls generally converge as they project toward theadjacent faces. One side wall has a portion 36 which is disposeddirectly adjacent to the bottom of the groove and a portion 38 extendingoutwardly therefrom to the face of the flange and forming a convergingportion of the side wall. This is shown particularly in Fig. 4. Theopposite side wall projects at a converging angle throughout its extent.The two grooves are shown as offset each other, not only within thewidth of the flange but offset each other within its thickness.

Within each groove is mounted a sealing gasket. Such gasket is indicatedby the numeral 40. This gasket is generally V-shaped in cross section.One side wall of the V-shape indicated as 42 is substantially thickerthan the opposite side wall indicated by the numeral 44. This thickerside wall seats against the bottom of the groove 34. The gasket may beformed of rubber or other suitable resilient and eflicient sealingmaterial. The side wall 44 projects outwardly beyond the face of theflange 32 in the form of a lip which projects beyond the groove when thegasket is disposed uncompressed as it is in Fig. 4.

When the gasket is engaged by the adjacent sash, as shown in Fig. 5,such Wall or lip portion 44 is urged inwardly of the groove and may beurged almost completely within the thickness of the flange.

In Fig. the upper swinging sash is shown as engaging the gasket on theadjacent side of the header flange 32 and a screen sash frame is shownas engaging the gasket on the opposite side of the header frame 32.These two sash cooperating with the two gaskets on the opposite sides ofthe flange form a particularly tight and secure weather seal and this istrue throughout the entire circumference of the window frame. The sealis shown also between the meeting rails of the two sash. In Fig. 2 thelower sash is illustrated as provided with an upwardly projecting flange48 which has a groove within which a sealing gasket 50 is disposed. Thisgroove and the sealing gasket 50 are of the same character as the groove34 and gasket 40 hereinbefore described. The upper sash has a flangeportion 52 which is adapted to abut the gasket 50 to form a tight sealbetween these two meeting rails of the upper and lower sash.

The window frame is provided upon the same side wall 30 hereinbeforedescribed as provided with a flange 32 with a second flange portionindicated as 54 shown parlicularly in Figs. 2 and 3 which flange portion54 extends parallel to the flange 32 and is spaced therefrom and isangular in cross section, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This flange portion54 is of low height as compared with the flange 32 and is adapted to beengaged by a fastening device mounted on the screen frame or storm sashframe. In Figs. 2 and 3 such fastening device is illustrated as aneccentric 56 pivoted as at 58 on the screen and which eccentric isrotatable as illustrated in such figure to engage behind the flange 54and urge the screen or storm sash against the gasket mounted within theadjacent face of the flange 32.

The swinging window sash is of course urged down to its seat against thesealing gasket carried by the flange 32 by an operating mechanism whichis employed to manipulate the swinging sash. Both sash structurestherefore are held tightly against the sealing gasket and an effectiveweatherproof seal is formed around the margin of the window frame.

The preferred form of gasket is that shown in the first 6 figures of thedrawing. Fig. 7 shows a modified form of the gasket wherein the base ofthe rubber strip comprises a series of linearly extending spaced legs orribs 61. Four of these are shown. These ribs seat within the channel butare sufficiently flexible and resilient to permit the projecting ridge63 to be depressed toward the bottom of the channel to be receivedtherein. On one side of the flange 32 in Fig. 7, a dottled outlinemember which might be a sash frame is shown as depressing such ridge 63into the channel.

What I claim is:

1. A window frame having a header portion, a sill portion and twosimilar jamb portions, each such portion being channel-shaped in crosssection and with the channel opening outwardly of the frame, the innerside wall of the channel being of less width than the outer side wallthereof, said inner side wall provided with a flange projecting inwardlyof the window opening within and substantially parallel to the plane ofthe frame and positioned between the inner and outer faces of the frame,the outer face of each such flange provided with a linearly extendinggroove which is generally keystone shaped in cross section and the sidewalls of which converge as thcy project toward the face of the flange,and a generally V-shaped resilient gasket seated within each groove andextending for the length thereof and having one side of the V-shapcdseated against the bottom of the groove and the opposite side of theVshapc seated against one of said converging side walls of the grooveand normally projecting outwardly therefrom and beyond the outer face ofthe flange and resistingly depressiblc into the groove superimposing theopposite side wall of the V-shape, a sash hinged within the frame forswinging movement, said sash having one portion adapted to close overthe channel opening when the sash is closed and having another portionadapted to close against that side of the ll-shaped gasket normallyprojecting outwardly beyond the groove to depress the same toward thegroove.

2. A window frame as defined in claim 1 characterized in that one of theside walls of each groove has a portion adjacent to the bottom of thegroove which is perpendicular to the plane of said frame and a portionadjacent to the outer face of the flange which converges toward theopposite side wall, and further in that the side wall of the V-shapcdgasket which seats against the bottom of the groove has a thicknesssubstantially greater than the side wall of said gasket which projectsoutwardly beyond the face of the flange.

3. A window assembly comprising, a in combination, a window frame havinga header portion, a sill portion and opposed complementary jambportions, each such portion being channel-shaped in cross section andwith the channel opening outwardly of and normal to the plane of theframe, the inner side wall of the channel being of less width than theouter side wall thereof, said inner side wall provided with a weatherseal carrying flange projecting inwardly within the frame and substantially parallel to the plane thereof and positioned be tween theinner and outer faces of the frame, the inner face and the outer face ofeach such flange provided with a linearly extending groove which isgenerally keystone shaped in cross section and the side walls of whichconverge as they project toward the face of the flange, a generallyresilient gasket seated within each groove and extending for the lengththereof and having a base portion against the bottom of the groove andagainst the opposite side walls thereof and having a lip portion normally projecting outwardly beyond the groove and beyond the face of theflange and resistingly depressible into the groove, a swinging sashpivotally supported within the frame to be swung outwardly therefrom orto be swung inwardly thereagainst, said sash having one flange portionadapted to close over the opening of the channel frame and having asecond flange portion disposed parallel with the first mentioned flangeportion and adapted to close against the lip portions of the gasketsdisposed within the adjacent face of the weather seal carrying flange,and a screen sash received within the frame upon the opposite side ofsaid weather seal carrying flange adapted to seat against the gaskets onsaid side and means operable to hold said screen sash against saidgaskets.

4, A window frame assembly having a header portion,

a sill portion, and opposed complementary jamb portions, each saidportion being channel-shaped in cross section and with the channelopening outwardly of the frame normal to the plane thereof, the innerside wall of the channel extending only substantially midway thethickness of the frame as definedby the outer side wall, said inner sidewall provided with a flange projecting from its margin inwardly of thewindow opening within and substantially parallel to the plane of theframe, the inner face and the outer face of each such flange providedwith a linearly extending groove which is generally keystone shaped incross section and the side walls of which converge as they projecttoward the face of the flange, a resilient gasket seated within eachgroove and extending for the length thereof and having a base portionseated against the opposite side walls thereof adjacent to the bottomand having a lip portion projecting outwardly of the groove beyond theface of the flange, said lip portion being resistingly depressible intothe groove, and a sash hinged within the frame for swinging movementoutwardly thereof or inwardly thereinto, said sash having one portionadapted to close over the channel opening of the frame when the sash isclosed and another portion adapted to close against the lip of theresilient gasket mounted within the groove of the outer face of saidflange, depressing the same into the groove when the sash is closed, thelip of the gasket mounted within the groove of the inner face of saidflange adapted to receive a screen sash thereagainst.

5. A window frame assembly as defined in claim 3 characterized in thatthe gasket seated within the groove has a base portion which comprises aplurality of resistingly y-ieldable linearly extending generallyparallel ribs bearing against the bottom of the groove and terminatingin a crown portion which carries the lip that projects outwardly beyondthe groove.

6. A window frame assembly as defined in claim numbered 3 characterizedin that the resilient gasket is generally V-shaped in crosssection andone side wall of the V shape is seated against the bottom of the grooveand the oposite side wall of the V shape lies normally against one sidewall of the groove and projects outwardly therebeyond and beyond theface of the flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,873,399 Haskell Aug. 23, 1932 2,077,807 Peremi Apr. 20, 1937 2,176,683Peremi Oct. 17, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 851,410 Germany Oct. 6, 1952

